While Axios reported that Johnson’s tour of Samaria was designated as a private trip, the speaker was joined by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, as well as Reps. Michael Cloud (R-Texas), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.). Other participants included Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Heather Johnston, the founder of the U.S. Israel Education Association.
According to the Israel Hayom daily, Johnson visited Ariel with the express consent from the White House and U.S. State Department. “The Bible teaches that the hills of Judea and Samaria were promised to the Jewish people and belong to you by right,” Johnson said during the tour with local leaders, according to a readout of his remarks provided by the Ariel Municipality. “The world may not see it that way—but we do,” he continued, according to the readout. (Read More)